On April 3, 2019, the EEOC represented to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that it would require Component 2 data (hours and pay by race, ethnicity and sex) for the EEO-1 report by September 30, 2019. This is in addition to the May 31, 2019 deadline for the EEO-1 Component 1
EEO-1 Surveys Now Due May 31, 2019 – Wage Pay Data May Be Required
Employers required to file an EEO-1 (hopefully you know who you are…certain federal contractors/subcontractors), must do so between March 18, 2019 and May 31, 2019 via the EEO-1 website. Importantly, on March 4, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held that the Office of Management and Budget’s stay of the
What’s Happening in the Minnesota House with Wage and Hour Laws You Ask?!
As expected, several bills have been introduced in the Minnesota House this session related to wage and hour issues. However, given we are the only state in the nation to currently have a split state legislature (Democrats control the House, while the Republicans control the Senate), it’s doubtful that any of these will actually get
Wage and Hour Preparations for the New Year
As 2018 comes to a close, it is a great time for employers to address lingering issues that have been on the back burner and start “fresh” in the new year. A new year is a great time to roll out changes for both administration purposes and for employees; new year, new policies. Here are
Employer Had Legitimate, Non-Discriminatory Reason for Terminating Employee Upon Return from FMLA Leave
Employers are often surprised to learn that employees may be terminated while on (or after) Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or other type of protected leave. The key, however, is that there needs to be some sort of unrelated intervening event such as in the case of Naguib v. Trimark Hotel Corp. On September 12,
DOL Launches Two New Websites and Office of Compliance Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) was extremely busy with its announcements on August 28, 2018. Along with issuing 6 opinion letters, a directive, and launching a new web page (all of which I previously wrote about), it also announced the creation of not one, but two new websites, as well as the new Office
Employers May Freeze Attendance Points During FMLA Leave – With Caution
The U.S. Department of Labor’s August 28, 2018 Opinion Letter FMLA2018-1-A confirms that, in certain circumstances, an employer may “freeze” an employee’s attendance points during periods of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. Attendance points are often used in a manufacturing or other settings when attendance is critical and HR needs a simple way to
Duluth Passes Sick & Safe Time Ordinance
As expected, on May 29, 2018, the Duluth City Council voted to pass the Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance (“Ordinance”). The Ordinance currently mandates that employers (wherever located), with 5 or more employees, provide paid sick and safe leave to employees starting January 1, 2020. That being said, given the recent ruling on the Minneapolis Ordinance, I would not be surprised if Duluth’s Ordinance is challenged as well, and eventually limited to employers with a business in Duluth.
What Does the Duluth Earned Sick and Safe Time Ordinance Require?
Effective January 1, 2020 employers are required to provide employees with 1 hour of earned sick and safe time for every 50 hours worked, up to 64 hours per year. However, the Ordinance only allows employees to use up to 40 hours of accrued but unused sick and safe time each year. Alternatively, employers can comply with the Ordinance by front-loading at least 40 hours of earned sick and safe time following the initial 90 days of employment each year and again at the beginning of each subsequent year.
Accrual begins at the commencement of employment, or for current employees, January 1, 2020. If an employee has unused accrued sick and safe time at the end of the year, the employee may carry over 40 hours of accrued but unused sick and safe time into the next year. Employers are not required to payout the accrued but unused sick and safe time hours upon termination or other separation from employment (make sure your handbook is clear especially if you have different types of time off such as vacation, sick, etc.).
Employers must compensate employees at their standard hourly rate, or an equivalent rate for salaried employees. The Ordinance does not require compensation for lost tips or commissions.
Who Is An “Employer” and “Employee” Under the Ordinance?
All individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, nonprofit organizations with 5 or more Employees (as defined below), are considered an “employer” under the Ordinance. The number of employees is calculated based on the average number of employees per week in the previous year. Temporary employees from a staffing agency are considered an employee of the staffing agency under the Ordinance. Notably, in an attempt to avoid challenges to the Ordinance similar to the ones that arose surrounding the Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, the Duluth Ordinance defines an “employee” as:
- A person working within the geographic boundaries of Duluth for more than 50% of the employee’s working time in a 12-month period, or
- “is based in the city of Duluth and spends a substantial part of his or her time working in the city and does not spend more than 50 percent of their work-time in a 12-month period in any other particular place.”
The Ordinance does not cover independent contractors, student interns, or seasonal employees.
Construction Company Opt-Out
Similar to the Minneapolis Ordinance, construction companies may opt to satisfy the requirements of the Ordinance by paying at least the prevailing wage rate (Minn. Stat. 177.42), or the rates set for in a registered apprenticeship agreement.
What If An Employer Already Offers Paid Time Off?
The Question Employers Love and Applicants Hate: “How Much Are You Currently Making?”
In Minnesota, it is still lawful to ask job applicants about their pay and benefit history. However, a number of states and cities are moving toward banning such practice. Thus, Minnesota employers with other locations should be mindful of these changing laws. The idea is that by doing so, the gender and minority job gap
Spring Cleaning? Don’t Forget to Update Your Mandatory Workplace Posters
Hopefully you all got outside this weekend as Spring (and maybe we jumped right into summer) has finally arrived! In the spirit of Spring cleaning, I wanted to remind employers to take a look at your HR board, and make sure that all of your mandatory workplace posters are up to date. After having visited